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HVAC Maintenance Technician
Salary

HVAC Maintenance Technicians in the United States are largely men, earning an average of $16.90 per hour. Geographic location is the biggest factor affecting pay for this group, followed by tenure. Most HVAC Maintenance Technicians report high levels of job satisfaction. Not all workers are lucky enough to have benefits; in fact, just under a fourth are without coverage. Medical insurance is claimed by a strong majority and dental insurance is reported by a majority. Figures cited in this summary are based on replies to PayScale's salary questionnaire.

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

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Job Description for HVAC Maintenance Technician

HVAC maintenance technicians provide preventative care and repairs for HVAC systems. They repair and maintain refrigerator and electrical systems and their components, as well as troubleshoot electrical systems and write schematics for their work locations. In addition, the HVAC technician must be proactive in ensuring that preventative maintenance of all equipment is done promptly to help prevent future problems with equipment. The HVAC technician must also look for inefficiencies in systems to find the source of any current or possible malfunctions. They dismantle equipment as necessary when needed to troubleshoot the system or ensure that the equipment is properly maintained. In addition to these responsibilities, the HVAC technician is responsible for documenting the work they complete. Much of the HVAC maintenance technician's work takes place outside in varying weather. The employee may need to lift as much as 40 pounds of equipment at any given time.

HVAC technicians need to have relevant education and/or experience related to the systems with which they work. These professionals must be familiar with the principles of refrigeration and saturation, as well as technical components such as motors, loop systems, and water treatment. The HVAC technician also must be familiar with all the tools used to maintain and repair equipment. The ability to work directly with customers, other technicians, and managers is required; this includes excellent communication and interpersonal skills. (Copyright 2017 PayScale.com)

Common Career Paths for HVAC Maintenance Technician

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At the upper end, HVAC Maintenance Technicians who move into a HVAC Refrigeration Technician role can end up with a hefty increase in pay. The average income for HVAC Refrigeration Technicians is a much higher $48K per year.

HVAC Maintenance Technician Job Listings

Popular Skills for HVAC Maintenance Technician

This chart shows the most popular skills for this job and what effect each skill has on pay.

HVAC Maintenance Technicians generally report applying a varied skill set to their work. Most notably, skills in HVAC System Design, Plumbing, Systems Troubleshooting, and Troubleshooting are correlated to pay that is above average. Those familiar with Maintenance also tend to know Systems Troubleshooting and Electronic Troubleshooting.

Pay by Experience Level for HVAC Maintenance Technician

Pay by Experience for an HVAC Maintenance Technician has a positive trend. An entry-level HVAC Maintenance Technician with less than 5 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $33,000 based on 215 salaries provided by anonymous users. Average total compensation includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay. An HVAC Maintenance Technician with mid-career experience which includes employees with 5 to 10 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $38,000 based on 107 salaries. An experienced HVAC Maintenance Technician which includes employees with 10 to 20 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $45,000 based on 94 salaries. An HVAC Maintenance Technician with late-career experience which includes employees with greater than 20 years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $47,000 based on 81 salaries.

Pay Difference by Location

For HVAC Maintenance Technicians, working in the bustling city of Boston has its advantages, including an above-average pay rate. HVAC Maintenance Technicians can also look forward to large paychecks in cities like Los Angeles (+35 percent), Memphis (+25 percent), Dallas (+21 percent), and Cincinnati (+20 percent). In Chicago, salaries are 20 percent below the national average and represent the lowest-paying market. Workers in Nashville and Indianapolis earn salaries that trail the national average for those in this profession (16 percent less and 15 percent less, respectively).